Tent structure



C. J. HOIGAARD TENT STRUCTURE Filed Feb. 18, 1925 May 11 1926.

m .m. E w I Patented May 11, 1926.

; UNITED "STATES TENT STRUCTURE.

Application filed February 13, 1925. Serial No. 9,998.

This invention relates to the palmetto type of tent, having the extended eaves at the top portion, and especially to the'particular type of palmetto tent supported by a sliding umbrella mechanism working on an upright central support.

It is the main object of this invention to provide a simple but highly efficient tent structure which will prevent undue strain on e the canvas when the tent is being set up, will provide an efficient demountable framework 7 for properly extending the sides and eaves of a palmetto tent, and, in addition, willprovi'de resilient or yielding means to compensate for undue strains or shrinkage or stretching of the tent canvas.

v In the umbrella type of palmetto tent, where radial arms are used to project the corners of the tent, the strain of the canvas in setting the tent up will often cause the arms to buckle or the canvas to rip' or tear as will the shrinking of the tent when setup due to'nioisture.

This invention, by providing elastic elements and means in the demountable frame work, overcomes these well-known objections to the commercial tents at this time in usage.

More specifically the invention has for an object to provide a plurality of radial arms carrying resilient'means for impelling the: ends of the same outwardly, adapted to work in cooperation with elastic frame members encircling the inner sides of the tent at the eave line and engaging the ends of said arms.

'Obviously, the radial arms and the encircling: frame members must cooperate if provision is to made for compensating for undue strain and shrinkage of the tent. y

The novel structure :herein described and set forth embodies cooperating members which constitute a highly efficient tent structure for the purposes above enumerated.

Other objects of theinvention will be apparent from the accompanying drawings, wherein like characters refer to similar aarts throughout the several views, and in w ich; Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an umbrella palmetto tent embodying the preferred form of the invention, with a portion of the walls broken away showing the interior thereof.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal cross section of said tent taken at the eave line;

Fig. 3 is a detailed cross section taken on the line 3-3 of'Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of one of the pivoted radial arms and the slidable collar employed;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view illustrating the structure and engagement means of the 1,583,831 ATENr OFFICE;

several flexible 'frame members employed,

and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detailed view showing the flexible frame members and means for uniting and supporting the same at the peak of the tent. i

In Fig. 1, a palmetto tent having the side walls 7, the polygonal bottom 8 and the roof portion 9 is illustrated, provided with the central upright support 10'. The corners of the bottom 8 are firmly secured in extended position by means of several stakes 11. A- slidable collar 12 working on the upright support 10, is provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertured ears 12 arranged in pairs between which are pivoted the flattened ends13 of a plurality of radial arms designated as an entirety by the letter A. Each of these arms comprises a relative 1y short tubular portion 14 and a relatively" end of tubular member lt is threaded to engage a cap 13. Between said cap and the inner end of member 15, a-coiled'spring 25 or other resilient member,2is disposed normally impellingthe member 15 outwardly with respect/to a supportlO. Other resilient means may be employed for impelling the end of arm A outwardly although the form illustrated is preferred.

A' flexible frame member, preferably comprising -a plurality-of chains 17, the outer ends of which are securedto. annular mem-v bers or seats 18, in cooperation with thexrae dial arms A, form the eaves of the palmetto tent. The annular members 18- are'obviously adapted to fit over and engage the studs 16 on the outer extremities of arms A. At desired sections in the chains 17, relatively small coiled springs 19 are imposed rendering the flexible frame member elastic and having suflicient tension to ofiset the undue strain on the canvas when the tent is being set up or when the canvas shrinks.

The hips or angles of the roof portion 9 are supported and projected by means of a plurality of flexible members 20, preferably small chains, connected at their upper ends to the annular member 21 adapted to engage the stud at the upper end of the upright support 10. The lower ends of chains engage the respective annular memsecured at a desirable raised position on the upright support 10, the small apertures 23 in the latter are provided, wherein the pin 2t attached to collar 12 may be seated.

To set up the tent the corners of the bottom are first staked, as illustrated, and the upright support 10 is then mounted, the outer ends of the arms A engaged in the annular members 18 and the slidable collar 12 then raised until the sides of the tent are properly expanded, when the pin 2st may be inserted in a desired hole 23 to secure said parts in proper position. H

In setting up the tent, undue strain on the canvas will be relieved by the resilient devices employed in the radial arms and the flexible, frame members. Consequently, there will be no chance of the arms buckling .or the canvas ripping or tearing at this time.

It is a Well-known fact that moisture will cause considerable shrinkage in a canvas or duck tent, often causing the frame members to buckle or break, or the canvas to become torn, due to the undue strain imposed thereon. stretch considerably after the same has been set up for a considerable time, often. requiring adjustments of the various parts to be made to compensate for the stretching. Obviously, applicants improved structure efficiently provides for these objectionable conditions, permitting undue strain or stretching of the canvas to be compensated for at all times.

The elastic flexible frame member cooperates with the resiliently impelled arms to automatically adjust the framework of the tent, thus keepinig the sides of the tent 7 projected at the proper tension at all times.

From the above description, it will. be seen Likewise the canvas of a tent will.

that a highly efficient tent structure has been provided, successfully accomplishing the objects of the invention as above described and enumerated. f

The invention, in its preferred form, has been put to considerable actual usuage with successful results.

It will, of course, be understood that various changes may be made in the form, proportions, details and arrangement of parts, as well as in the particular form of resilient means employed, without departing from the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. A tent structure comprising a support, a plurality of radially extending arms mounted thereon adapted to contact and project the corners of a tent, and resilient means for impelling the ends of said arms outwardly to yieldingly hold the corners of said tent in proper projected position.

2. A tent structure comprsiing a support,

a plurality of radially extending arms mounted thereon adapted to contact and project the corners of a tent, each of said arms comprising a pair of telescoping members and a resilient element interposed therebetween and adapted to yieldingly impel the ends of said arms outwardly.

3. A tent structure comprising a frame member encircling the inner Walls of atentand a resilient element interposed therein to permit said frame memberto yieldingly project said walls.

4. A tent structure comprising a support a plurality of radially extending arms, means for yieldingly impelling said arms outwardly and a frame member encircling the inner walls of the tent and provided with means for engaging the outer ends of said arms. p

5. The structure set forth in claim 4, and said frame member being elastic and flexible.

6. A tent structure comprising a central support, a slidable collar working thereon, a plurality of radially extending arms pivoted to said collar, resilient means carried by said arms yieldingly impelling the ends thereof outwardly, and a flexible elastic frame member encircling the inner Walls of the tent and provided with means for engaging the outer ends of said arms:

In testimony whereof I attix my signature CONRAD J. HOIGAARD. 

